How was massive astronomy done in the 1800’s? Who were the Harvard Computers? How did Annie Jump Cannon figure out how to classify stars?
Jul 18th: How Did Annie Jump Cannon Bring Order to the Universe?
Paul M. Sutter Archive
Jul 4th: Is the Universe a Giant Black Hole?
Why didn’t the big bang collapse in a singularity? What would a universe-sized black hole be like? Now that I think about it, do we live inside a giant black hole already?
Jun 20th: Could the Earth Leave the Solar System?
Could we nudge the orbit of the Earth to avoid the death of the Sun? Could it get kicked out of the solar system altogether? What are rogue exoplanets?
Jun 6th: How Does Light Slow Down?
If light always travels at the speed of light, how does it slow down when passing through air or water? Does it matter is light is made of particles or waves? What’s the difference between phase velocity and group velocity, and how does that all play into this?
May 16th: What are the Top 5 Mysteries in Astronomy?
What are the biggest mysteries facing modern astronomers? What questions do I wish could be answered in my lifetime? What are most astronomers working on right now?
May 2nd: What are the Top 5 Discoveries of All Time in Astronomy
What discoveries and insights made the biggest impacts in astronomy and physics? What were the biggest surprises? What results took the longest to achieve? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!
Apr 18th: What’s So Weird About Black Hole Shadows?
How does a black hole make a shadow? What can we learn from it? What are we seeing when we look at a black hole? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!
Apr 4th: Which is Better, Human or Robotic Exploration?
What are the advantages of robotic exploration of the solar system? What are the limitations? Is there any situation where human exploration is better?
Mar 14th: Could We Ever Build A Dyson Sphere?
What are Dyson spheres? What would be involved in building one? How much energy would it cost, and could we ever pay it back?
Mar 7th: How Cold Can Space Get?
What’s the temperature of deep space? Can it get any colder than that? How do we even define temperature when there’s nothing around? I discuss these questions and more in today’s Ask a Spaceman!